What must a bail agent do if a defendant is released on bail and fails to appear in court?

When a defendant is released on bail and subsequently fails to appear in court, the proper course of action for a bail agent does not include issuing a bench warrant. Instead, the responsibility typically falls upon the court to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of the defendant. The bail agent plays a key role in ensuring the defendant's appearance, but they are not vested with the authority to issue a bench warrant themselves; that power lies within the judicial system.

The bail agent's actions should primarily involve taking steps to locate the defendant and potentially alerting others within the bail process, such as the insurer or the indemnitor, to the non-appearance. Thus, the correct perspective considers the role of the bail agent in notifying other parties involved, while recognizing that actual warrant issuance is not within their purview.

In this specific situation, if a defendant fails to appear, a bail agent would be expected to notify the "insurer" of the bail bond about the defendant's failure to appear in court, as this could impact any claims or obligations tied to the bail. It highlights the collaborative nature of the bail process and the critical responsibility of keeping all stakeholders informed.